The Malaysia Trauma Conference (MTC) 2026 was held at the AC Hotel by Marriott Penang in Bayan Lepas yesterday.
In attendance were some 250 healthcare professionals and specialists from various disciplines across the country including foreign delegates.
The conference provided a platform for interdisciplinary discussions, clinical exchange, collaboration, consensus-building and networking, with the aim of advancing a seamless and collaborative approach towards improving the quality of trauma clinical care in Malaysia.
Guest of honour was
Dato’ Sri Dr. Mahathar Abdul Wahab, Director General of Health, Malaysia.
Lending support was Dr. Zulhizzam Abdullah, Penang State Health Director; Directors of Penang State Hospitals, Heads of State Services and Heads of Department;
In his opening speech, Dr Mahathir thanked the organisers for the commendable session which will benefit industry professionals.
“Having spent over more than two decades at the Emergency and Trauma Department of Hospital Kuala Lumpur, I know firsthand the raw, relentless weight of the resuscitation bay. I remember the piercing alarms of the monitors, the rapid-fire commands, the heavy tension when a severely injured polytrauma patient is wheeled through the doors, and the profound,inescapable truth that in trauma, every single second counts.
“That frontline reality is what brings us here today. Trauma remains an important public health challenge in Malaysia, particularly among our younger and working-age population,” he added.
He also shared that In Malaysia, transport-related injuries remain a major contributor to preventable deaths, particularly among those in their most productive years.
“Beyond the loss of life, trauma also carries significant social and economic consequences for families, communities and the nation..Our trauma services must be able to respond to increasingly complex patients and changing patterns of injury.
“Trauma care is ultimately about people. Behind every statistic is a patient, a family and a community. Our responsibility is to ensure that when a serious injury occurs, our system is ready — our people are prepared, our services are connected, and our patients receive the care they need without delay,” he added.
Guests were later witnessed demonstrations of trauma teams responding to various emergencies on stage.
The event was supported by the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).